Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-27
SOME SPECULATIVE LIGHTS.
Two Prominent Operators of the
Produce Exchange.


NEW YORK, Feb. 26.-In the enormous
increase of speculation in this country
within the last few years, under the fos.
tering influence OF commercial exchanges
a number of leaders in their campaigns
Of chance have come to the front as q
natural product of these feverish times.
At the Produce Exchange among the
most prominent of these commercial
chieftains is Edward Cottrill, slightly
built man, under the medium height, of
dark, sallow complexion. He is nervous
in manner, but is one of the bold operators
on Change, though not SO venturesome as
formerly. He has made and lost several
fortunes in wheat and is wealthy now.
Both he and Charles Raus, another we'll
known speoulator, are about 40 years of
age. Raus is small, sandy complex
Toned man, cool by temperament aud
very successful. With the experience of
many campaigns to guide them these two
still comparatively young men may yet
be numbered among the financial powers
OF the metropolis, though the Spectator,
however powerful, who relies solely on
the turns in the wheel OF speculation, I'M
aided by any legitimate business to keep
him in purple and gold, is usually in the
end crushed by the juggernaut OF
chance and left a mangled warning that
nature intended men 10 work on this
planet and not to merely stand the haz-
ard Of the die. But there is no absolute
uniformity in natural laws, as the career
OF Stephen r. Post seems to eXempllfy.
he is Quaker who CANDLES very heavily
In wheat He is as cool and smiling as
morning in May. 1t is the May option in
deed by singular fitness of things,
judged from this fancitui standpoint, that
| N hns Nnlw - tnN =
really one OF the boldest spectators in
this country and one Of the shrewdest.
He is fully IS years of age, has hand
some, benevolent features, over which
beam blue eyes while his hair Is OF
| patriarchal fineness and whiteness. He
| IS one of the weat hest OF the wheat
| operators and also one of the most pop
| ular. The singular fact concerning his
career is that though he has been III the
| grain speculation for about fifteen years
he has never yet failed to meet his obliga-
tons, and that to-day in the sporting par
lance, not inappropriate in speaking OF
| grain gambling, ne is largely ahead OF the
| game. He lives in Brooklyn, and I'M
derstaud is an eloquent eXnorter at the re-
| ligious meetings of the Quaker5. The
traditional Quaker, it will be remember
| ed, said to his son: jonathan, get
| riches honestly If thou canst-but get
riches" Our Quaker friend of the Pro-
| duce Exchange mas got riches and has
never been accused of anything tue re-
verse of honesty in his business career.
| There are stranger vicissitudes OF for
tune to be observed in this great hive OF
business and speculation. l have
| watched the rise of II. o. Armour, An
derson, Gowler and others now worth
| millions, and have seen once prosper
| GUS men borrowing money of these plu-
tocraIs, the reporters, aud in one in
stance broker became so reduced In the
| days OF old exchange that he was seen at
it's doors selling lead pencils.
OSCAR WILLOGHBY RIGGS.